Some See Privacy Violation in Radio Station Tracking Device

Privacy advocates are disturbed by a new device that can tell owners of concert halls, car dealerships and shopping centers what people are listening to on their radios as they drive up.

The device tracks what FM station is tuned in; it is not designed to track license plates or record conversations.

But critics say the technology is disturbing and invasive, particularly because few motorists know about the legal eavesdropping.

“You know this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said John Roberts, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.

Tweeter Center, a concert venue in southeastern Massachusetts, installed the device--called Mobiltrak--last year.

The venue’s owner, SFX Entertainment Inc., finds the information useful in planning promotions and marketing campaigns, spokeswoman Susan Elmore said.

But, even though the device cannot correlate listening information with individuals, there are still privacy concerns.

“My concern is that the next step will be someone in a van [with a similar device] going down a street and seeing what people are watching or listening to in their own homes,” he said. “Technology is so far ahead of the law.”

The machines are also in use in several other cities, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta and Toronto. Birmingham, Ala.-based Mobiltrak did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday.

Ron Rodrigues, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles-based trade newspaper Radio & Records, said the technology has been getting a lot of attention from radio stations since its debut two years ago.